**A recent UN helicopter attack in South Sudan has claimed lives, reigniting fears of renewed conflict.**
**UN Helicopter Attack in South Sudan Leaves Multiple Fatalities**
**UN Helicopter Attack in South Sudan Leaves Multiple Fatalities**
**Deadly incident interrupts UN evacuation efforts amidst escalating violence in Upper Nile.**
Several fatalities occurred in South Sudan following an attack on a UN helicopter attempting to evacuate national army personnel from a conflict area. According to a statement from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), one crew member was killed when the helicopter came under fire. Reports indicate that several other troops, including a wounded general, also died during this evacuation in Upper Nile state. UNMISS claimed that the shooting at its aircraft could be classified as a war crime.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir reported that another helicopter managed to escape but later crashed, resulting in the death of all its passengers. However, UNMISS clarified that both helicopters landed safely in Malakal. Total fatalities among South Sudanese soldiers have reportedly reached 27, based on information shared by Information Minister Michael Makuei.
This resurgence of violence in Upper Nile poses a significant threat to an already delicate peace agreement between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The two leaders previously sparked a devastating civil war in 2013, which resulted in around 400,000 deaths and displaced 2.5 million individuals. Despite the signing of a peace deal in 2018, tensions have remained high in the region, particularly with ongoing clashes between the national army and the White Army, an ethnic militia formerly allied with Machar during the conflict.
UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom condemned the helicopter attack as "utterly abhorrent" and suggested it could potentially violate international law. He expressed condolences for the loss of the crew member and those they were attempting to rescue, remarking that assurances had been provided for safe passage.
The death of General Majur Dak, who commanded forces stationed in Nasir, further exacerbates the tension. Reflecting on the escalating unrest, President Kiir urged South Sudanese citizens to maintain calm, asserting his commitment to prevent the country from descending back into war. He urged that the government would manage the current crisis effectively.
Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with political instability and violence, underlining its status as the world's newest nation amid ongoing sectarian strife.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir reported that another helicopter managed to escape but later crashed, resulting in the death of all its passengers. However, UNMISS clarified that both helicopters landed safely in Malakal. Total fatalities among South Sudanese soldiers have reportedly reached 27, based on information shared by Information Minister Michael Makuei.
This resurgence of violence in Upper Nile poses a significant threat to an already delicate peace agreement between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The two leaders previously sparked a devastating civil war in 2013, which resulted in around 400,000 deaths and displaced 2.5 million individuals. Despite the signing of a peace deal in 2018, tensions have remained high in the region, particularly with ongoing clashes between the national army and the White Army, an ethnic militia formerly allied with Machar during the conflict.
UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom condemned the helicopter attack as "utterly abhorrent" and suggested it could potentially violate international law. He expressed condolences for the loss of the crew member and those they were attempting to rescue, remarking that assurances had been provided for safe passage.
The death of General Majur Dak, who commanded forces stationed in Nasir, further exacerbates the tension. Reflecting on the escalating unrest, President Kiir urged South Sudanese citizens to maintain calm, asserting his commitment to prevent the country from descending back into war. He urged that the government would manage the current crisis effectively.
Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with political instability and violence, underlining its status as the world's newest nation amid ongoing sectarian strife.
